TSWPF -Chapter 334 Eye Contact

Hu Juanjuan smiled in relief and said, “Those little monkeys of mine are usually so rowdy at home, but today they’ve been so well-behaved. It really proves that kids imitate whoever they’re with. They should spend more time with the young masters and learn the scholarly air they carry.” Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan not only had good looks but also an elegant demeanor—it was obvious they came from a prominent family.

Standing next to them, her own dark-skinned little monkeys looked utterly out of place.

From now on, she thought, she would need to keep her little monkeys more at home and see if she could lighten their skin a bit.

She used to think there was nothing wrong with her children’s darker complexion; it made them look robust. But now…

The saying passed down from ancestors, “Fair skin hides three flaws,” truly made sense.

At this moment, she deeply understood it.

“Boys will naturally be mischievous,” Li Qingling said. “Don’t let their seemingly well-behaved appearance fool you—they can be a handful at home and drive you crazy.”

“How could that be? These young masters clearly seem well-behaved and sensible.” Hu Juanjuan shook her head in disbelief. If her own children were as obedient as the young masters, she wouldn’t have so many worries.

Li Qingling smiled helplessly, then led Hu Juanjuan back to the flower hall. They discussed at length the matter of educating children.

It wasn’t until lunchtime approached that Hu Juanjuan stood to take her leave.

Li Qingling tried to persuade her to stay for lunch.

Hu Juanjuan shook her head. She felt awkward eating at the county magistrate’s home since her four children ate so much.

“Madam Hu, do you think our food isn’t good enough?” Li Qingling asked playfully.

“No, no, no, not at all,” Hu Juanjuan waved her hand. “I just feel that I’ve already stayed so long—I shouldn’t trouble you further.”

Li Qingling pretended to be upset and said that if Hu Juanjuan didn’t stay for lunch, it would seem like she looked down on her.

At this point, refusing a meal would indeed seem ungrateful. Hu Juanjuan sighed softly and said, “Then… I’ll shamelessly trouble the county magistrate’s lady a little longer.”

“It’s not a trouble at all; it’s just a meal. You don’t need to be so polite.” Li Qingling patted Hu Juanjuan’s hand and playfully scolded her. “Friends shouldn’t be overly formal; it makes the relationship feel distant.”

Friends?

Hu Juanjuan’s heart swelled with both emotion and guilt. She had befriended the county magistrate’s lady with her own agenda in mind, but Li Qingling treated her genuinely as a friend. How could she deserve such kindness?

She twisted her fingers, silently vowing to treat Li Qingling sincerely and wholeheartedly.

Li Qingling hadn’t expected it to be so easy to win Hu Juanjuan over. She had exchanged sincerity for sincerity and was rewarded in return.

“You’re right, County Magistrate’s Lady. I misjudged it,” Hu Juanjuan admitted.

Li Qingling smiled, holding Hu Juanjuan’s hand and leading her to the dining hall.

By the time they entered, the children were already seated properly.

Hu Juanjuan raised her eyebrows in surprise at her four sons sitting so obediently. She never expected to see such well-behaved children. Her heart was truly grateful to Li Qingling.

“Where’s Master?” Li Qingling noticed the empty main seat and asked Li Qingfeng.

“Master said it’s inconvenient for him to sit here. He told us to eat first; he’ll manage on his own.”

Li Qingling understood Master Luo’s intentions. He felt it would be awkward for Hu Juanjuan to sit at the same table.

She nodded and helped Hu Juanjuan to a seat, announcing the start of the meal. Only then did Li Qingfeng and the others begin to eat.

Watching them eat elegantly, Hu Juanjuan didn’t speak and truly practiced the adage of “not speaking while eating.”

She quietly marveled at their refined demeanor; it wasn’t something ordinary families could cultivate.

Turning to her own four sons, who usually chattered nonstop at the table, she saw them now silent, heads bowed over their bowls, even eating with smaller gestures than at home. She pressed her lips together in a smile. Perhaps if her children spent more time with the young masters, they would learn proper manners too.

“Brother Mada, are you counting grains? Why are you eating so slowly?” Li Qingning asked curiously, looking at the four Ma Da brothers.

Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan looked up and saw the brothers eating bit by bit. Their slow manner was completely different from their quick, casual way of eating at the pavilion.

The two young masters burst out laughing and asked what they were doing.

“How rude! What are you laughing at?” Li Qingling lightly tapped their heads.

The Ma Da brothers blushed slightly and said indignantly, “We were just… watching how slowly you eat…”

“Which eye of yours saw us eating slowly?” Li Qingfeng tilted his bowl to show them. He had already finished one bowl and was ready for a second.

Liu Zhiyan did the same, proving he was also not eating slowly.

The Ma Da brothers exchanged glances. They had assumed the young masters would eat slowly because of their elegant demeanor. They hadn’t expected…

“You don’t need to be so formal. Treat this like home; eat however you like. We won’t mind at all,” Li Qingfeng reassured them, then jumped down to serve himself a second bowl.

Ma Da carefully asked if they were being too rude.

“No, we’re friends. Friends don’t need to be so formal. Eat however you want; we won’t mind. Right, Xiaoyan?”

“Yes, I don’t mind,” Liu Zhiyan affirmed.

The Ma Da brothers beamed and nodded heartily.

“Brother Ma Li, here’s a big chicken drumstick for you,” Li Qingning offered. “It’s delicious; try it.”

“Thank you, Sister Ningning.”

“You’re welcome.”

Seeing her sons so happy, Hu Juanjuan wiped her eyes, feeling even more grateful to Li Qingling for caring so much for her children.

After the meal, the children played a while longer, and the Ma Da brothers reluctantly followed Hu Juanjuan home.

Before leaving, they promised to come back to play tomorrow.

Li Qingfeng and the others nodded in agreement.

Once outside, Ma Li bounced and told Hu Juanjuan that he really liked Li Qingfeng and the others. The other three brothers nodded in agreement.

“Do you think they’re easy to get along with?”

“Yes, very easy. Unlike Zhao Hengwang, Cong Linwei, and the others who look down on people, we like Xiaofeng and the others,” Ma Da frowned at the thought of Zhao Hang’s group. “I don’t like them, but I like Xiaofeng and the others.”

“That’s good. Learn from them when you can—they’re amazing. I heard they’ll take the Tongsheng exam next year. You all need to work hard too, understand?”

Upon hearing this, Mada’s eyes lit up, staring at Hu Juanjuan. “Really?”

Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan were only a year older, and yet they were already ready to take the exam. Amazing.

Hu Juanjuan nodded, confirming it was true as told by the county magistrate’s lady.

“Then I…”

“No, you can’t. Your knowledge isn’t enough yet. You’ll have to wait a bit longer,” Hu Juanjuan interrupted, dousing his hopes. She knew her third son’s ability; even if he took the exam now, he wouldn’t pass. Better to wait until he was ready.

Hearing this, Ma Da slumped, disappointed, realizing he really couldn’t compare to Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan.

“Don’t be discouraged, Third Son. You can ask Master Luo for guidance!” Ma Zhi patted Mada’s shoulder excitedly. “Mom, we met Master Luo today. He’s really amazing. We asked him everything, and he could answer it all!” If Ma Da studied under him, he could surely catch up quickly.

“That’s right, I can ask Master Luo for guidance.” Ma Da smacked his head, wondering why he hadn’t thought of Master Luo earlier. With him, he could learn so much.

“Will Master Luo really teach us?” Ma Li asked, chewing on the candy Li Qingning gave him, voicing the question on everyone’s mind.

The question stunned the other three brothers. Could Master Luo, who even refused to teach princes, agree to teach them?

Hu Juanjuan didn’t want to see her sons disappointed. After thinking for a moment, she said, “If you occasionally ask him about something you truly don’t understand, Master Luo should answer. But remember, don’t ask him everything. Only ask the hardest questions. Understand?”

“Yes…”

She nodded, then reminded her four sons to keep it a secret; otherwise, Master Luo would stop teaching them.

Ma Li, confused, asked why. Hu Juanjuan patted her youngest son’s head and carefully explained. Once they understood, she stopped.

The Ma Da brothers kept this secret firmly in their hearts, telling no one.

When they returned home, Ma County Magistrate asked where they had been, why they weren’t home.

Only then did he realize the house was empty and the meal untouched.

Before Hu Juanjuan could speak, Ma Li ran up excitedly, hugging his father’s leg. “Dad, we went to the county magistrate’s house. They had so much delicious food; I ate a lot!”

Ma County Magistrate looked at Hu Juanjuan and asked how they had gone there.

“Didn’t I tell you last night? Today I took the four of them to the county magistrate’s house to play,” Hu Juanjuan said, smiling. “The four of them became good friends with the young masters.”

“Ah…”

“Maybe I forgot,” she added.

“…“ Ma County Magistrate glanced at Hu Juanjuan, then looked down at his youngest son tugging at his robe. “Ma Li, what do you want to tell me?”

Ma Li eagerly recounted their visit to the county magistrate’s house, explaining everything.